Sliding curtain rod



G. LuNDQulsT Erm. 3,905,557

Oct. 24, 1961 SLIDING CURTAIN ROD 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 22, 1960 FVG. 3.

INVENTORS 6057' UND Ol//S 7,

Oct, 24, 1961 G. LuNDQUls-r Erm. 3,005,557

SLIDING CURTAIN ROD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 22, 1960 s. S, T Y ms, @M EWS .MM w05 r Nw. @r a L W w V. 6 M W United tates Patent 3,095,557 SLIDING CURTAN RGD Gust Lundquist, 1924 Oaks Ave., and Carl W. Hess, 2125-27 Ogden Ave., both of Superior, Wis. Filed Jan. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 4,079 3 Claims. (Cl. 211-103) This invention relates to curtain rod assemblies wherein the rod elements are vertically slidable so as to be capable of being lowered from their normal elevated positions, when hanging a curtain thereon so as to avoid the necessity of employing a ladder or other support to reach the curtain-rod elements.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved curtain rod and assemblies of the character indicated above, which is simple in construction, which is easy to install, and which is simple to operate.

A further object of the invention is to provide an im proved curtain bracket assembly provided with a vertically movable curtain-supporting element, the assembly being inexpensive to fabricate, being durable in construc tion, and being neat in appearance.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a window frame provided with an improved curtain bracket assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the curtain bracket assembly of FIGURE l'.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a window frame provided with a modified form of curtain bracket assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the curtain bracket assembly of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the elements of the left side portion of the curtain bracket assembly of FIGURE 4, showing the slidable curtain bracket element in a lowered position with respect to the associated stationary support member.

Referring to the drawings, and rst to FIGURES 1 to 3, 11 designates the frame of a window, and 12 generally designates a curtain rod assembly according to the present invention. The frame 11 has a top cross member 9 and vertical side members 10.

The curtain rod assembly 12 comprises a pair of generally rectangular latch housings 13, 13 provided With suitable attaching anges 14, whereby the housings are secured to the top cross member 9 at the ends thereof and in line with the vertical side members 10, at the upper corners of the frame. Pivoted in the housings on transversely extending horizontal shafts 15 mounted therein are depending latches 16, the latches being provided on their lower ends with lateral hooks 17 which extend downwardly through slots 18 provided therefor in the bottom walls of the housings 13, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 3. Each latch 16 is provided on its upper end with a lateral arm 19 to which is connected one end of a coiled spring 20, the other end of the coiled spring being stretched to and connected to an adjacent upper corner portion of the housing, whereby to bias the latches 16 associated in counterclockwise directions, as viewed in FIGURE 3.

Designated at Z2 and 23 are respective rigid vertical guide tracks which are secured at their top ends to the laterally inward vertical ends of the respective housings 13, 13, and which have vertical arms of generally rightangled cross sectional shape, being apertured at their bottom ends 24, whereby the lower ends of the tracks 22 and 23 may be secured by suitable fastening means to the respective vertical side members 10 of the window frame 11.

' Designated at 25 are similar substantially horizontal plate members secured respectively to related ends of telescoping curtain rod sections 27 and 28 located adjacent to the plane of the window frame 11, as is clearly shown in FIGURE l, and being adjustable in accordance with the width of the window frame. The plate members 25 are formed with depending vertical flanges 26 to which the telescoping sections 27 and 28' are secured, by means of fastening lugs 29. The plates 2S are formed with generally rectangular locking slots 30 through which the latch hooks 17 are adapted to extend to engage beneath the plates 25, as shown in FIGURE 3.

Secured to the laterally outward ends of the depending ahges 26 of the plates 25 are lateral arms 31 and 31 of telescopically engaged curtain rod sections 33 and 34, said curtain rod sections extending around the front arms of the vertical guide elements 22 and 23, as is clearly shown in FIGURE l. Thus, the vertical guide members 22 and 23 are slidably engaged between the outer ends of the plates 25 and the arms 31 and 31 of the curtain rod sections 33 and 34.

Rigidly secured to the top end of one vertical guide member 22', and thus held in abutment with the upper portion of the laterally outward end wall of the right hand housing member 13 is a downwardly and outwardly declining guide plate 36 formed with the upstanding vertical, laterally spaced guide ilanges 37, 38, 39 and 40, and provided at its outer end with the downwardly arcuately curved tip 41.

Respective exible cables 42 and 43 are slidably supported in the spaces defined between the upstanding vertical flanges 37, 38 and 38, 39. The cable 42 extends into the right hand housing 13 and is secured to the intermediate portion of the top arm 19 of the latch 16. The cable member 43 extends through apertures in the upper portion of the vertical end wall of the right hand housing member and extends through an aperture provided in the vertical inner end wall of the left hand housing member, and is secured to the intermediate porti-on of the top arm 19 of the latch 16 pivoted in said left hand housing member in the same manner as is illustrated in FIGURE 3. The cable members 42 and 43 are connected at their outer ends to a common pull knob 47.

Respective additional ilexible cable members 48 and 49 are slidably received in the spaces betwen the vertical upstanding ilanges 39 and 4G and extend slidably through apertures provided in the outer end wall oi the right hand housing member 13. The cable member 43 extends slidably through an opening provided in the bottom wall 46 of the right hand housing member and is fastened to the plate member 25, as shown in FIGURE 3. The cable member 49 extends slidably through apertures provided in the respective end wallsfof the right hand housing member and extends slidably through an aperture provided in the horizontal bottom wall of the left hand housing 13 and is secured to the related plate 25 in the same manner as the cable member 4S is secured to the other plate 25, as illustrated in FIGURE 3. A common pull knob 50 is connected to the outer end portions of the cable members 48 and 49, whereby said cables 48' and 49 may be simultaneously actuated.

'I'he cooperating curtain rod sections 33 and 34 have their arms 31 and 31 detachably connected at their ends to conventional supporting brackets 51 secured to laterally outward ends of the depending anges 26 whereby the rod` sections 33 and 34 may be at times detached to permit curtain panels to be engaged thereon. Thus, to hang acurtain, the pull knob 47 is first pulled to cause the cables 42 and 43 to rotate the latches 16 to their retracted positions, so that the plates 25 are permitted to descend. The curtain rod sections 33 and 34 may then be removed to engage the curtain panels thereon, after which the rod sections 33 and 34 may be again engaged on the cooperating supporting bracket elements 51. The curtain may then be raised by pulling on the knob Sti, whereby the cables 48 and 49 elevate the plate members V25 until the beveled end portions 54 of the latches 16 engage in the slots 30 and 31 and the hook portions 17 engage beneath the plate members 25. This locks the plate members Z'S in their elevated positions and thus locks the curtain in'its intended elevated position wherein the supporting bracket elements 33 and 34 are held adjacent the top of the window frame 11.

As will be readily apparent, the assembly above described enables curtains to be hung without the necessity of using ladders or other supports to reach the curtain panels supporting elements, since said elements may be readily lowered to convenient positions Vfor mounting the curtain panels thereon. After the curtain panels have been placed on the rod sections 33 and 34, the rod sections may be raised in the manner above described by merely exerting pulling force on the knob Sil. Thus, the assembly eliminates the danger inherent in the use of stepladders or other supports commonly employed to hang curtains, as well as greatly reducing the amount of physical exertion involved in hanging said curtains.

As will be further apparent, Vthe device facilitates the changing of curtains Vwhenever desired, since in order to lower the curtains to be removed it is merely necessary to exert pulling force on the release knob 47, whereby the curtains descend to positions wherein they may be easily reached and removed from the assembly and replaced by new curtains.

Since the 'curtain panels are hung on the curtain rod sections 33 and 34, the various portions of the assembly are normally obscured from view and are hidden b-y the curtains, therefore being completely inconspicuous and not interfering with the aesthetic effect created by the curtains.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 4 to 7, v11 designates the frame of a window and 12 generally designates the curtain rod assembly, employed to support a curtain on the upper portion of the windowframe. The assembly 12 comprises a pair of generally U-shaped housings 13', 13 provided with spaced vertical franges 14 and 1S', the vertical flanges 14' being secured to the top cross member 9 in line with the vertical side members' 10' ofthe window frame. The upper portions 4of the anges 14 and 1S are connected at their opposite ends by transversely extending pin members 16 and 17', the right hand pin members 16' being provided with lrotatable supporting sleeves 18 for supporting related cables, as hereinafter dmcribed.

Connecting the intermediate portions of the flanges and 14 are transversely extending shaft elements 19 on which are pivotally mounted latches 2G', each being provided on its lower end Vwith a lateral hook 21 which extends through a bottom Vslot 22 provided in the horizontal bottom wall 23' of the associated housing 13.V

As shown in FIGURE 6, a coiled spring 24V is stretched between one top corner portion of the left hand catch member and the adjacent transversely extending pin member 17', whereby to bias the latch 20' in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FlGURE 6. The hook is provided with the inclined camming edge 25', as' is clearly shown in FIGURE 6. A ilexible cable member 27 is connected between the upper right hand corner of the left hand catch member 20' and the upper left hand corner ofYV the right hand catch member Ztl', and an auxiliary cable Y28 is connected to the upper right hand corner of the right hand catchmernber Z, and extends over the roller sleeve 18 of the right hand housing 13', so that the liexible member '2S' is effective to simultaneously rotate both of the latches 20 when pulled downwardly. The coiled spring Z4', mounted on the left hand support member 13 biases both latches 29' in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 4.

Designated at 34)', 30' are respective vertically movable slide plates having reduced Width lower portions 32 which are slidably engageable behind generally U-shaped guide brackets 31', 31 secured to the respective vertical side members of the window frame, as shown in FIG- URE 4. The depending reduced portions 32 of the slide plates 30 are of substantial height, allowing substantial vertical movement of the slide plates 3G relative to the guide brackets 31.

Each slide plate 30 is Aprovided with an upwardly llaring top portion 33 formed on its outer edge with the triangular vertical forwardly extending flange 44 extending perpendicular to the plane of the main body of the slide plate and terminating in laterally inwardly extending horizontal arms 34 adapted to lockingly engage in the end portions of a curtain rod. Thus, the arm elements 34 may be engaged in the outer end portions of a pair of telescoping curtain rod sections to support the segments in a horizontal position so that the segments may be employed to supporta curtain on the window frame.

The slide plates 30 are provided on their upper ends with the horizontal flanges 35 having upwardly projecting arcuately curved lips 36 at their laterally inward ends. The llanges 35 and their associated lip elements 36 are shaped to engage beneath and receive the horizontal bottom walls 23' of the stationary housings 1'3 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6. The flanges 35 are formed with slots 37 located to register with the slots 22', as shown in FIGURE 6, and to receive the latch hooks 21' therethrough, so that said hook elements may lockingly engage beneath the ilanges 35 to lock the slide plates 30 in their elevated positions. Respective flexible cable members 39 extend through apertures 4h provided in the bottom walls V2,3' of the stationary support 13', and are secured to the flanges 3S', the llexible members 39' being supported on the sleeve members 1S' as illustrated in FGURE 6. By pulling downwardly on the cables 39', the slide plates 30 may be elevated from lowered positions, to positions wherein the latch hooks 21lockingly engage beneath the Bauges 35 and thus support the curtain slide plates 30 in their elevated positions.

As will be readily apparent, by exerting a pull on the release cable element 27', the latches 20" may be rotated to released positions, allowing the slide plates 30', 30 to simultaneously descend. The slide plates 30', 3G may be subsequently elevated by exerting a downward pull on the exible cable members 39'.

A stabilizing, generally Z-shaped bracket member 50" is provided on each pivoted latch 20', the bracket member 5G having a bottom flange 51 secured to the latch 2% and being provided with an offset vertical top flange 52 spaced from and parallel to the main body of the associated latch Ztl', the vertical flange 52' receiving the supporting pivot shaft 19', and thus serving to prevent the associated latch 20 from rocking or tilting laterally on the pivot shaft 19'.

While speciiic embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as dened by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A curtain rod assembly comprising a Window frame having upper corners and vertical side members, housings mounted on said upper corners in line with said side members, pendant latches pivoted in the housings and having lateral hooks on their lower ends, said housings having bottom walls provided with opening means through which the hooks extend, slides engaged with the frame side members beneath said housings, guide means mounted on the frame side members guidingly engaged with the slides, said slides having horizontal plates provided with slots through which the latch hooks can extend to engage beneath the horizontal plates to hold the slides in elevated positions, curtain rod means extending between and secured to the slides, spring means biasing the latches to engaged positions, rst cable means engaged with the housings and connected to the latches for pivoting the latches to release their hooks from the horizontal plates, and second cable means engaged with the housings and connected to the slides for elevating the slides from depressed positions.

2. A curtain rod assembly comprising a Window frame having upper corners and vertical side members, housings mounted on said upper corners in line with said side members, pendant latches pivoted in the housings and having lateral hooks on their lower ends, said housings having bottom walls provided with opening means through which the hooks extend, slides engaged with the frame side members beneath said housings, guide means mounted on the frame side members guidingly engaged with the slides, said slides having horizontal plates provided with slots through which the latch hooks can extend to engage beneath the horizontal plates to hold the slides in elevated positions, curtain rod means extending between and secured to the slides, spring means biasing the latches to engaged positions, iirst cable means engaged with the housings and connected to the latches for pivoting the latches to release their hooks from the horizontal plates, and second cable means engaged With the housings and connected to the slides for elevating the slides from depressed positions, said guide means comprising vertically elongated guides against which end portions of the slides bear.

3. A curtain rod assembly comprising a window frame having upper corners and vertical side members, housings mounted on said upper corners in line with said side members, pendant latches pivoted in the housings and having lateral hooks on their lower ends, said housings having bottom walls provided with opening means through which the hooks extend, slides engaged With the frame side members beneath said housings, guide means mounted on the frame side members guidingly engaged with the slides, said slides having horizontal plates provided with slots through which the latch hooks can extend to engage beneath the horizontal plates to hold the slides in elevated positions, curtain rod means extending between and secured to the slides, spring means biasing the latches to engaged positions, first cable means engaged with the housings and connected to the latches for pivoting the latches to release their hooks from the horizontal plates, and second cable means engaged with the housings and connected to the slides for elevating the slides from depressed positions, said guide means comprising horizontal U-shaped guide brackets behind which portions of the slides are engaged.

Davidson Mar. 13, 1951 Trimarchi July 17, 1951 

